Electrical connector



April 29,. 195s E WMS 2,832,941

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed June 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1.

INVENTOR w r'TTORNE 5 5 v April 29, 1958 Filed June 28, 1954 E. WILLIS 2,832,941

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR E. WILLIS TTORNE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Eugene Willis, Finksburg, Md.

Application June 28, 19754, Serial No. 439,937

1 claim. (ci. 339-176) (Granted under Title 35, U` S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.V

The present invention relates to axially separable electrical connectors and more particularly to the type for conveniently connecting and disconnecting cables or conduits containing one or a multiplicity of conductor wires constituting component parts of electrical circuits. The invention includes male and female elements having new and improved means for firmly securing the cooperating elements in connected relation thereby to establish an exceptionally good electrical connection therebetween.

Moreover, the invention is directed to a separable connector having new and improved mea-ns for gripping and wiping the conductor pin thereof as the pin is `inserted in the socket member. The connector is adapted .to a wide eld of use, such, for example, as in radio control work, electronic devices, industrial machines, electric fuzes, charging circuits, aircraft monitor circuits and various switch arrangmeents.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having new and improved high pressure longitudinal disposed contact elements for frictionally engaging an elongated contact pin.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector having new and improved means for establishing an electrical connection between the pin and socket element thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved socket element having cantilever contact members for grippingly engaging an elongated conductor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a separable connector having new and improved complementary male and female conducting elements including cantilever contact elements for insuring positive electrical contact between the male and female elements.

Other objects Iand many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a pair of separable connectors constructed in accordance with the present invention with the connectors in elevation and the supporting means therefor in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the connectors illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating an alternative arrangement of the connector of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of another alternative arrangement of the device of Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several ICC views and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the numeral 10 indicates a general arrangement of a pair of separable connectors constructed in accordance with a preferredv embodiment of the present invention and the supporting means asscoiated therewith. The aforesaidarrangement comprises a plug 11 having a .pair of sockets 13 molded therein and a support 14 having a pair of elongated coriductor pins 15 mounted therein, the plug being threaded as at 12 thereby to provide means for securing the plug to a panel or the like. The plug and support are composed of any suitable insulating material. Although. the arrangement of Fig. 1 discloses a pair of separable connectors it will be apparent that, if desired, a multiplicity of such connectors may be used.

As more clearly shown on Fig. 2, the socket 13 comprises a tubular member 16 composed of suitable conductive material and having a sleeve 17 composed of insulating material arranged therein. The sleeve is closed at one end by a disc 18 which may be molded integrally therewith or, if desired, the disc may be made separately from the sleeve and secured thereto by a suitable adhesive. The socket 13 has formed on the other end thereof a pairY of diametrically disposed relatively narrow spring tongues 19, each tongue having cantilever springs 22 integrally formed therewith and a pair of ears 23 carried thereby, eachof the ears terminating in a relatively narrow longitudinal line contact portion 24 which providesY a maximum contact pressure at four diametrically disposed points along the pin 15 as best shown on Fig. v3. VBy the aforesaid arrangement the ears 23 move outwardly against the action of the spring tongues 19 as the contact pin 15 is inserted into the tubular member or socket 16 which provides a positive gripping and wiping action therebetween. Thus by the gripping action an exceptionally good electrical connection is established between the socket and pin and by the wiping action any accumulation of oxide or other contaminations will be removed from the pin and contact surfaces of the ears. The element 16 is further provided with a terminal 25 having a bore 26 formed therein whereby a suitable conductor or electric wire may be attached thereto.

As more clearly shown on Fig. 2 pin 15 comprises an elongated contact element 27 disposed at one end thereof and a portion 28 somewhat smaller in diameter than the contact 27 and having a sleeve 29 composed of insulation material molded thereon. The pin is further provided with a ange 31 integrally formed thereon and a terminal 32 having a bore 33 formed therein. The flange provides means whereby the pin may be attached to the support 14, the terminal 32 providing means whereby a suitable conductor or the like may be attached to the pin.

It will be noted in the aforesaid arrangement that the contact element 27 is normally in engagement with the insulating sleeve 17 in member 16 and the contact surfaces 24 on ears 23 are normally in engagement with the insulating sleeve 29 on the pin 15 when the connector is in an assembled condition and thus the electrical connection is normally interrupted and will remain interrupted until the pin is withdrawn from the element 17, It will be understood however that as the pin is withdrawn from the socket 16 the contact surfaces 24 on the ears 23 frictionally engage the contact element 27 on pin 15 and thus an electrical circuit is established through the pin and socket.

By the aforesaid arrangement a device has been devised which is admirably suited for use in an electric fuze for a bomb whereby the armi-ng of the fuze occurs as the bomb is released and falls away from an aircraft in flight. It will be understood that in such an arrangement the plug assembly 11 may be carried by the aircraft and the pin assembly 14 may be carried by the bomb whereupon an electrical circuit is established therethrough as the bomb falls away Vfrom the aircraft by reason of frictional engagement of the aforesaid plurality of contact surfaces with the elongated contact on the pin.

Referring now to the arrangement of Fig. 4 it will be noted that the same type of socket shown on Fig. 2 is disclosed. The .contact pin 34 thereof is somewhat different than the pin structure of Fig. 2 and comprises an elongated contact element 3.5 having a threaded shank 36 formed thereon for threaded engagement with a cap or sleeve 37 composed of suitable insulating material. The Contact pin 34 is also provided with a `iiange 38 and a terminal 39 having a bore 41 formed therein. rl`he flange provides means whereby the pin may be attached to the support and the terminal providing means whereby a suitable conductor may be attached thereto. In the aforesaid arrangement it will be noted that the cap 37 anda portion of the elongated contact 35 is in snug engagement with the insulating sleeve 17 and the contact surfaces 24 on the ears are in gripping engagement with the Contact element 35 von the pin. The socket 13 may also be advantageously employed with a tube pin such, for example, as the type used in radio tubes and the like as illustrated in Fig. 6, the pin being indicated by the numeral 42. In this arrangement, however, it will be understood that, if desired, the insulating sleeve 17 vmay or may not be used with the socket member. i

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that an electriF cal connector of the pin and socket type has been devised in which new and improved means are providedl for ygrippingly engaging an elongated contact in such a manner as to establish a plurality of diametrically disposedlongitudinal surfaces of contact along the pin and which also prevents rattling or vibration between the aforesaid member by reason of the snug fit therebetween and the gripping characteristics of the cantilever springs. Moreover, the aforesaid arrangement may be also used advantageously in connection with a switch wherein a desired controlled movement is required to either complete and/ or to interrupt an electrical circuit.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

An Velectrical connector comprising, in combination, a male plug composed of conducting material and having an enlarged forward portion and a reduced diameter rearward portion, an insulating tube conformingly encircling said rearward portion, a socket composed of conducting material for receiving said male plug and having an opening at one end for insertion of said plug therewithin, an insulating sleeve disposed within said socket a predetermined distance from the open end thereof and disposed between said plugand socket for preventing electrical connection therebetween until said plug has been withdrawn to a position in contiguity to said open end, and cantilever spring means including a plurality of contact surfaces integrally formed at said open end for establishing an electrical connection between said socket and said plug.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

